Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program to help you recover after a heart attack, from other forms of heart diseases, after surgery or to treat a specific heart disease (e.g. valve replacement, pacemaker).
Cardiac Rehabilitation is often divided into phases that involve various levels of monitored exercises, nutritional counseling, emotional support, support and education about lifestyle changes, all in aid to reduce your risks of heart problems. Both the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology recommend Cardiac Rehab Programmes.
The goals of Cardiac Rehabilitation help you to regain strength and cardiovascular fitness, to prevent your condition from worsening and to reduce your risk of future heart problems. It also teach you the intensity at which you can exercise safely by using the BORG scale of Perceived exertion and to improve you quality of life by being more active and healthy.
To be able to treat your specific condition efficiently the following will be needed to get a clear picture:
Every individual will start off with an assessment determining your level of fitness (within your capacity and with the BORG scale in mind),
Body Composition measurements: Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat percentage and muscle mass – to set realistic goals!
Medical History to determine all risk factors involved. Please bring with you all referral letters as well as previous reports, e.g. ECG reports
All previous or current orthopaedic injuries will also be taken into consideration.
In particular, you may benefit from cardiac rehabilitation if your medical history includes:
• Heart attack
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart failure
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Chest pain (angina)
• Cardio myopathy
• Certain congenital heart diseases
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Angioplasty and stents
• Heart transplant
• Heart valve replacements